TITLE:   Director of Special Education Cooperative - Immediate Opportunity

LOCATION:  Central Office

JOB SUMMARY:   

Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Schools, the Director of Special Education is a critical leadership role that directly affects academic student outcomes for students with disabilities. The Director is responsible for monitoring and strengthening special education services which meet federal, state, and local regulations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Demonstrate ability to increase academic achievement for all students with disabilities, thus holding oneself and team members accountable.
• Promote and articulate high expectations for teaching and student learning.
• Apply research based practices to improve the delivery of special education and related services.
• Assist with the administration of the district’s alternative and day schools.
• Develop innovative and relevant professional learning for district and campus leaders, teachers, paraprofessionals, and related services providers.
• Support the general direction of the special education cooperative through an extensive planning process.
• Direct and supervise all special education staff members not assigned to a campus.
• Advise elementary and secondary school principals with respect to the planning for, supervision and administration of the elementary and secondary schools special education program.
• Lead teams to collaborate with other departments and stakeholders.
• Direct the preparation and implementation of all reports required by state and federal agencies in the administration of the special education cooperative.
• Represent the Cooperative at regional, state and federal levels.
• Monitor legislative actions and report legislative concerns to the Cooperative Board of Directors.
• Responsible for approval of all purchases requested by special education administrators.
• Determine staffing needs of the Cooperative.
• Responsible for public relation activities of the Cooperative.
• Make regular reports to the Cooperative Board of Directors on matters of operation, policy, and budget.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Hold or be eligible for Kansas certification appropriate for the position including District Leadership licensure.
• Master’s Degree.
• Meet the employment qualifications set forth by the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education and the Kansas State Department of Education.
• Knowledge of Kansas and federal special education laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of special education and special education services.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, professional judgment, oral and written communication.
  

COMMUNICATION/ORGANIZATION:

• Maintains communication with school personnel.
• Build positive relationships with students, teachers, parents, and the community.
• Utilizes existing technology effectively in the performance of duties. Performs other related work as required.
  

REASONING ABILITY:  Ability to solve complex problems and deal with a variety of concrete and abstract variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  Ability to read, analyze and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write well in the areas of curriculum, learning theories, correspondence, and protocols.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, parents, students, and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand and talk or hear. While performing the duties of the job the employee occasionally may visit a child’s home.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud and is a standard acceptable level for this environment. Is directly responsible for students’ safety, work output and well-being.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community; ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communication.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 261 days

SALARY:           Based on KCKPS Administrator's Salary Schedule

FLSA STATUS:  EXEMPT

REPORT TO:     Executive Director of Schools

EVALUATION:  Performance of this position will be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the Board's policy on Evaluation and Professional Personnel.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  The individual currently holding this position performs additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.  

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  KCKPS does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, tenure, disability or any other factors that cannot be lawfully considered in its programs and activities as required by all applicable laws and regulations.

Signatures

This job description has been approved by all levels of management:

Manager _______________________________________________

HR ___________________________________________________

Employee signature below constitutes employee’s understanding of the requirements, essential functions and duties of the position.

Employee _____________________________ Date ____________